Konami Reveals ‘Metal Gear Solid 4’ Trophy List; Hides a Few Along the Way

A motion over four years in the making (and one outed by Hideo Kojima last month), Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is finally getting trophy support on the PlayStation 3.

Analogous to Xbox Live Achievements, PlayStation 3 trophies (in conjunction with Vita trophies) are won by completing various developer-determined objectives throughout a game and – Sony having recognized the addictive potential of the system – are now mandatory in each title. The only quandary for fans of Metal Gear Solid 4, however, is that trophies were introduced to the console in July of 2008 – a solid month after Solid Snake’s epic was already on shelves.

But still: 4 years? In revealing the list below this Friday on the PlayStaion Blog, Konami’s Yoshikazu Matsuhana apologized for the long wait, declaring that the addition was inspired by extensive fan feedback and is intended to celebrate the Metal Gear series’ 25th anniversary.

In any case, Matsuhana says trophies will be implemented through a title update at some point in early August; retail copies are being updated to provide out-of-the-box support, presumably at the same time.

Took control of an enemy soldier’s body using the Mantis Doll or Sorrow Doll.

Silver

Are you an Otaku too?

Viewed all model posters.

Silver

You’re pretty good.

Got kissed by Ocelot during the final battle.

Gold

Flashback Mania

Viewed all flashbacks.

Gold

Sounds of the Battlefield

Obtained all iPod® tracks (excluding tracks obtained via password).

Gold

I am THE expert on weapons, equipment and cutting-edge technology.

Obtained all weapons (excluding weapons obtained via password).

Platinum

The Legendary Hero

Obtained all trophies.

Now initially, the list feels a bit… incomplete. There are only 20 trophies listed in all and none correlate with any story completion of Metal Gear Solid 4; many are apt to be acquired in one play-through with little or no cognizant thought into their actual requirements. The Platinum trophy – that always-coveted memento of intensive dedication and skill – would hardly be worth its virtual weight in cheap aluminum.

Fortunately, there’s more.

Underwhelmed fans voiced themselves almost instantly after the list’s unveiling, either in bitter disappointment, or astute speculation that the story trophies were hidden. (Hidden trophies are quite common, often to preserve plot secrecy, but Matsuhana made no indication of them in his original posting.) Though not imparting specific details, a late-Friday Twitter response from the team at Kojima Productions did, to some degree, suggest this was the case: “Yes, there are hidden trophies.”

Most crucially for trophy fiends, the nature of the hidden objectives could present a real obstacle for claiming the Platinum. But in any case it’s nice to have another reason to return to Metal Gear Solid 4, which, like many indelible installments of the series, still holds up quite well.

Ranters, what do think of the Metal Gear Solid 4 four-years-in-the-making trophy list? What would you like to see added by way of the game’s hidden achievements?